Providing information, education, and training to build knowledge, develop skills, and change attitudes that will lead to increased independence, productivity, self determination, integration and inclusion (IPSII) for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

ASHLAND, MASSACHUSETTS--The MetroWest Daily News ran a brief story Saturday about a misunderstanding over a service dog in-training at a Chinese food restaurant.

Police were called Friday to China Ting restaurant after two women stopped there to eat lunch at about 1 p.m. One woman had a dog that was being trained as a service animal.

According to Sgt. Scott Rohmer, trained service dogs and their handlers are allowed by law into any public building. But if the handler does not need the dog's services inside the building, the decision lies with the business owner, Rohmer said.

"Nobody said she can or cannot eat here," said Jimmy Ge, a waiter at China Ting.

The waiter talked to the women and said he was not sure whether the untrained dog was allowed inside. He then called the manager at home to get authorization.

The GCDD is funded under the provisions of P.L. 106-402. The federal law also provides funding to the Minnesota Disability Law Center,the state Protection and Advocacy System, and to the Institute on Community Integration, the state University Center for Excellence. The Minnesota network of programs works to increase the IPSII of people with developmental disabilities and families into community life.